Hame-tug.



Y No. 672,272. Patented Apr. 16, |90I.

F. W. HODGES.

' HAME TUG.

(Application filed July 10, 1900.)

(No Model.)

turen FRANK W. HODGES, OF BATTLECREEK, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES C. GREEN, OF SAME PLACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 672,272, dated April 16, 1901.

Application filed July 10, 1900. Serial No. 28,162. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern: other portions of the harness. Fig. 6 is a Be it known that I, FRANK W. HODGES, a sectional View on aline corresponding to line 5o citizen of the United States, residing at the 6 6 of Fig. 5, the manner of operating when city of Battlecreek, in the county of Calhoun adjusting the tug being indicated by dotted 5 and State of Michigan, have invented certain lines.

new and useful Improvements in Tug-Buc- In the drawings all ot' the sectional views kies, of which the following is a specification. are taken looking in the direction of the lit- 5 5 This invention relates to improvements in tle arrows at the ends ol the section-lines, devices for attaching tugs to the hames of and similar letters of reference refer to simi- 1o harnesses called by some a hanne-tug and lar parts throughout the several views.

by others a tug-buckle. Referring to the lettered parts of the draw- The objects of the invention are, first, to ings, A is the intermediate connection of the 6o provide a simple, efcient, and strong attachbuckle to the haine secured to the loop B' ment which is easy to adjust to dierent and adapted to be secured to the hame by I5 lengths, and, second, to provide an improved any suitable means, no means being' here construction of tug-buckle in Which there is illustrated. Within the loop B area pair of a long leverage on the adjustable parts, makhooks ct to engage the outer member of the 65 ing them easy of manipulation. buckle. The inner member B is made up of Further improvements will appear from side bars having cross-pieces b b intermedizo the detailed descripti0n,such as the improved ate the length, with which a hook f, permameans of pivoting the parts together, the imnently `secured to the end of the tug, engages. proved attaching-hook used in this connec- Little eyes a are provided along the sides of 7o tion, and theimprovementresulting from the this inner member to receive rivets for searrangement of the parts whereby the tug itcuring a broad leather shield C to the inside 25 self, acting through the arrangement of loops, of the same to protect the sides of the aniautomatically clamps the parts together, and mal. A loop B" is formed at its rear end to other items of advantage resulting from the receive and retain the trace or tug A. The 75 arrangement and form in the details of the outer member E of the buckle is also made structure. up of side bars and intermediate cross-pieces 3o I accomplish the objects of my invention E/ and at its front end has a small round by the devices and means described in this cross-bar c,which engages within the hooks a,

speciiication. which are then closed upon it to retain the 8o The invention is clearly defined, and pointsame securely by a hinge-joint at this point. ed out in the claims. v The cross-pieces E/ are to engage a stop i on 3 5 A structure embodying the features of my the outside of the tug to prevent the unhookinvention is clearly illustrated in the accoming of the same when the buckle is closed. panying drawings, forming a part of this A loop E is formed at the rear end of this 85 specification, in whichouter member E, through which the tug A Figure l is a detail elevation view of my is extended to serve as a retaining means to 4o improved tug-buckle in use. Fig. 2 is a dehold the outer member E of the buckle in tail sectional view of the same, taken on line position. The tug or trace A is provided 2 2 of Fig. l, the operation of the parts in with a metal hookf for engaging the cross- 9o affecting an adjustment being indicated by bars b, as I have already stated. This hook dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the is made sutciently large and heavy to with- 45 inner member B of the buckle. Fig. 4 is a stand any strain upon it. On the outside of detail view of the outer member E of the the tug or trace A and near its forward end buckle. Fig. 5 isa detail View of a modiiicais secured a stop z', and this is engaged by 95 tion of the buckle independent of the tug or the cross-pieces E when the member E is closed down to the position indicated in Fig. 2. The tug in this position extends through the loops E" and B, and the two members are thus held securely together. The hook engages the cross-pieces of the inner member, and it is prevented from disengagement by the cross-pieces E' on the outer mem ber engaging the stop i on the ou ter side of the tug, and the two parts or members of the buckle are prevented from movement by the tug itself being threaded through loops in each,

and thus a very secure tug-buckle is formed.

I prefer to provide a large loop E on the outer member E of the buckle, and a smaller loop B is provided on the inner member B to extend up through the said loop E" to serve as the retaining means; but I am aware thatthis can be reversedand a large loop, as B", be provided on the inner member and a smaller loop E" be providedv on the outer member to extend down into the large loop B", this being merely a reversal of the arrangement of the retaining-loops. This modiiication is illustrated in Figs. 5 and t'. I prefer in this arrangement to modify the end of the large loop by an additional cross-piece to serve as a more perfect guide for the tug A. Otherwise the structure is the same as in the first instance, except that the form of the sides and ends of the loop is modified to accommodate the position of the tug, owing to the change in the general arrangement. The large loop referred to affords a convenient attachment for supporting-straps, as D, on either the upper or under side of the same, wherever they may be used. 'I am aware, however, that these straps which reach to the back pad or the belly-band are often omitted, particularly on slip-tug harnesses.

I desire to state that the parts of my improved tug-buckle are preferably made of maly leable-iron castings; that they may be made of any suitable material-as bronze, brass, or a forging-and I am aware that while I have shown the structure lnade up of but two principal members these members might be made up of pieces joined together by screws or rivets or other suitable means without departing from my invention. The form of the members of the buckle, however, is especially designed for use in a casting and is of very great advantage on that account.

Having thus described my invention, what A I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letits forward end to engage the cross-pieces l) of the inner member B; an outer member E having a cross-pin c at its front end to be engaged by the hooks (t to form a hinge-joint and provided with side pieces which have cross-pieces E connecting the same at intervals, said cross-pieces being arranged to engage the stop il on the tug when closed, and provided with a broad loop E" at its rear end through which the tug A is passed to retain the members together, as speciiied.

2. In a tug-buckle, the combination of the inner member B having a loop Bl at its front end, said member being formed of side pieces with intermediate cross-pieces b, b, and aloop B" at its rear end; a tug arranged in the loop B" and provided with a hookf at its forward end to engage the cross-pieces l), of the inner member B and having a stop z' on its outer` surface; an outer member E connected by a hinge-joint to the forward end of member B and provided with side pieces which have cross-pieces E connecting the same at intervals, said cross-pieces being arranged to engage the stop z' on the tug when closed, and provided with a broad loop E at its rear end through which the tug A is passed to retain the members together, as specified.

In a tug-buckle, the combination of the inner member B having a loop B at its front end, said member being formed of side pieces with intermediate cross-pieces b, b, and a loop B" at its rear end; a tug arranged in the loop B and provided with a hook f at its forward end to engage the cross-pieces b of the inner member B; an outer member E connected by a hinge-joint to the forward end of member B and provided with side pieces which have cross-pieces E connecting the same at intel'- vals, and provided with a broad loop E at its rear end through which the tug A is passed to retain the members together, as specified.

4. In a tug-buckle, the combination of an inner member having cross-bars and a loop for the tug at its rear end; a tug with a hook for engaging said cross-bars and provided with a stop on its outside; an outer member connected at its forward end to said inner member by a hinge-joint and provided with cross-bars to engage the stop on the tug, said tug being passed through said loop whereby the said members are retained closed upon each other, as specified.

5. In a tug-buckle, the combination of an inner member, having cross-bars and a loop for the tug at its rear end; -a tug with a hook for engaging said cross-bars; an outer member connected at its forward end to said inner member by a hinge-joint and provided with a loop for the engagement of the tug whereby when the said tug is passed through said loops the said members are retained closed upon each other, as specified.

IOO

IIO

6. In a tug-buckle, the combination of an tug in position, the seid outer and inner members being provided With loops one of which is narrower than the other and adapted to insert through the sanne, the said loops engaging the tug whereby the members are retained folded together by such engagement to positively retain the tug as specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK W. HODGES. [1.. s]

Witnesses:

A. E. HoUGHToN, OTIs A.. EARL. 

